SQL Server 2025 or 2022? For new installations, SQL Server 2025 is the obvious choice: the Standard edition uses 32 instead of 24 cores and 256 instead of 128 GB of buffer pool memory, Express allows 50 instead of 10 GB per database, and support runs three years longer. SQL Server 2022 remains right if your software vendor has not yet approved 2025, if the server runs on Windows Server 2016 or if you use Master Data Services or Data Quality Services. Both versions will receive security updates for many years to come.
Quick decision
Choose SQL Server 2025 if …
- you are installing from scratch and your application is approved for 2025,
- Standard reaches the limits of 2022 (24 cores, 128 GB of buffer pool memory),
- your Express database grows beyond 10 GB but stays below 50 GB,
- you want to use vector search, the native JSON data type or regular expressions in T-SQL,
- you want as much time as possible before the next version change.
Stay with SQL Server 2022 or buy 2022 if …
- the vendor of your line-of-business application approves 2022 only,
- the server runs on Windows Server 2016 and the operating system stays,
- you use Master Data Services, Data Quality Services or Synapse Link,
- a running, stable installation needs none of the new advantages. Extended support for 2022 does not end until January 11, 2033.
Capacity limits compared
| Feature | SQL Server 2022 | SQL Server 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard: compute capacity per instance | 4 sockets or 24 cores (whichever is lower) | 4 sockets or 32 cores (whichever is lower) |
| Standard: buffer pool memory per instance | 128 GB | 256 GB |
| Standard: columnstore segment cache per instance | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Express: compute capacity per instance | 1 socket or 4 cores | 1 socket or 4 cores |
| Express: buffer pool memory per instance | 1,410 MB | 1,410 MB |
| Express: maximum database size | 10 GB | 50 GB |
| Enterprise | operating system maximum | operating system maximum |
The complete tables for all 2025 editions are in the guide
SQL Server 2025: editions compared.
What is different about the editions
| Topic | SQL Server 2022 | SQL Server 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Web edition | available | discontinued |
| Express with Advanced Services | separate edition | discontinued; Express includes its features |
| Developer edition | one edition with the Enterprise feature set | Enterprise Developer and, new, Standard Developer |
| Resource Governor | Enterprise only | also in Standard |
| Power BI Report Server | only Enterprise core licenses with Software Assurance | right of use included in Standard and Enterprise |
The new Standard Developer edition is free and includes exactly the feature set of Standard. This lets you test an application the way it will later run in production. Like all Developer editions, it is licensed for development and testing only.
New features in SQL Server 2025
| Area | New in 2025 |
|---|---|
| AI and search | vector data type, vector functions, vector index (preview), management of external AI models |
| Development | native JSON data type, regular expressions in T-SQL, calling external REST endpoints, fuzzy string matching (preview) |
| Database engine | optimized locking (fewer locks and less blocking), tempdb space resource governance, accelerated database recovery in tempdb |
| Backup | compression with ZSTD, full and differential backups on secondary replicas, backup to immutable blob storage |
| Security | TLS 1.3 for additional components (among others SQL Server Agent, replication, log shipping), password hashes with PBKDF2 by default |
| Query processing | further intelligent query processing features, Query Store for readable secondary replicas enabled by default |
You enable features marked “preview” per database with the PREVIEW_FEATURES setting. Microsoft has not yet made them generally available.
What is removed in SQL Server 2025
- Data Quality Services (DQS) and Master Data Services (MDS) are discontinued. Microsoft continues to support both in SQL Server 2022 and earlier.
- Synapse Link is discontinued; Microsoft points to mirroring in Fabric.
- Reporting Services is consolidated under Power BI Report Server.
- The Web edition no longer exists.
If you use one of these services, stay with 2022 for now or plan the replacement before you switch.
System requirements and upgrade
| Feature | SQL Server 2022 | SQL Server 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Server | Windows Server 2016 or later | Windows Server 2019 or later |
| Windows client | Windows 10, version 1607 or later | Windows 10 or later |
| Enterprise edition | on Windows Server only | on Windows Server only |
| .NET Framework | 4.7.2 | 4.7.2 |
| Direct upgrade from | – | 2014 (SP3 or later), 2016 (SP3 or later), 2017, 2019, 2022 |
You migrate versions earlier than 2014 by backing up the databases and restoring them on the new server. Which versions are already out of support is shown in the overview
SQL Server end of support.
Support
| Version | Available since | End of mainstream support | End of extended support |
|---|---|---|---|
| SQL Server 2022 | November 16, 2022 | January 11, 2028 | January 11, 2033 |
| SQL Server 2025 | November 18, 2025 | January 6, 2031 | January 6, 2036 |
In mainstream support, Microsoft delivers bug fixes and new features; in extended support, only security updates.
Typical cases
New inventory management system, vendor approves 2022 and 2025. Choose 2025. You gain three years of support and the higher limits of Standard.
Practice software, approved for 2022 only. Buy 2022. The vendor’s approval takes precedence, because without it the vendor can refuse support if a problem occurs.
Express database with 9 GB on SQL Server 2019. Instead of switching to Standard, the upgrade to Express 2025 with 50 GB per database is enough, provided the other
limits of Express fit.
Running SQL Server 2022 Standard with 16 cores, no bottlenecks. No action needed. A switch is only worthwhile when you need a new feature or replace the hardware.
Licenses: what has not changed
Both versions have the same two models: per core with at least 4 core licenses per processor or, for Standard only, server + CAL. The rules are in the guide
Licensing SQL Server: per core or server + CAL. Important when changing versions: CALs cover the same or an earlier version. With CALs for 2022 you may not access a SQL Server 2025; CALs for 2025 also cover 2022.
At VivaKeys
- SQL Server 2025: Standard, 16 Core and Enterprise
- SQL Server 2022: Standard and Enterprise
- CALs for 2025: User CAL, Device CAL
- CALs for 2022: User CAL, Device CAL
You will find all versions in the SQL Server category.
Frequently asked questions
When is SQL Server 2022 end of life? Mainstream support ends on January 11, 2028, extended support with security updates on January 11, 2033.
Which versions and editions of SQL Server 2022 are there? Enterprise, Standard, Web, Developer, Express and Express with Advanced Services. In SQL Server 2025, Web and Express with Advanced Services are dropped; the Standard Developer edition is new.
How large may a database be in SQL Server 2022 Express? 10 GB per database. In SQL Server 2025 Express it is 50 GB.
Can I upgrade directly from SQL Server 2022 to 2025? Yes. Setup supports the direct upgrade from 2022 as well as from 2019, 2017, 2016 (SP3 or later) and 2014 (SP3 or later). Back up all databases beforehand and check the approval of your applications.
Is my license for SQL Server 2022 also valid for 2025? No, a license covers the version you bought. A right to new versions arises only through Software Assurance or a subscription from Microsoft.
Is the Developer edition of SQL Server 2022 and 2025 free? Yes. However, it may only be used for development, testing and demonstration, not in production.
What does “SQL Server 2022 Standard 2 Core” mean? Microsoft sells core licenses in packs of 2 cores each. Per processor you need at least 4 core licenses, i.e. two such packs.
Sources
Checked on 2026-11-10 against the publisher’s information:
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/what-s-new-in-sql-server-2025
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/editions-and-components-of-sql-server-2025
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/editions-and-components-of-sql-server-2022
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/install/hardware-and-software-requirements-for-installing-sql-server-2025
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/install/hardware-and-software-requirements-for-installing-sql-server-2022
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/install-windows/supported-version-and-edition-upgrades-2025
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/sql-server-2025
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/sql-server-2022
- www.microsoft.com/licensing/guidance/SQL